Windshield wiper



April 24, 1951 "r. J. SMULSKI WINDSHIELD WIPER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1946 2 3 mm NM fi ia 8 W5 T. J. SMULSKI WINDSHIELD WIPER April 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1946 INVENTOR THEODORE J SMULSK! y fiTQRNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1951 WIN DSHIELD WIPER Theodore J. Smulski, Gary, Ind., assignor to Productive Inventions, Inc., a corporation of Indiana Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,384

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to windshield wipers, and particularly to the provision of a simple structure which may be modified in many ways to provide structures adapted for a multiplicity of specific installations.

Many of the needs sought to be met in this invention in a practical and economical manner arise in connection with military aircraft and military vehicles such as tanks, trucks and tractors. The reduction of military inventories for replacement purposes is an object of such outstanding importance that it can scarcely be ex aggerated.

The primary object of the invention is to reduce inventory of alternative parts, units and arms, and to provide structures which may be adjusted and/or modified and/or combined with simple appurtenant parts to answer a wide variety of needs.

In airplane constructions need is encountered for wiper arms of unusual lengths and of a great variety of lengths. The present invention is designed to meet that need without parts duplication.

There is need for structures in which the wiper blade does not turn with the wiper arm but maintains a fixed attitude at all times; also for structures in which the wiper blade is secured in fixed relation to the wiper arm and in any selected angular relation to the latter. The present invention is designed to meet all these requirements without duplication of parts.

There is need for structures in a great variety of lengths in which the wiper blade is free to turn relative to the wiper arm and is controlled in its angular movement by an oscillatory, movement modifying arm. The present invention provides for wide range and precise adjustment of length of the movement modifying arm as well as the wiper arm.

There is need for wiper arms of various lengths designed to wipe conical as well as flat surfaces. The present invention provides a structure which can be readily adapted to act upon surfaces which are either fiat, convex or concave, and which has a wide capacity for adaption or adjustment as to length.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing forming part of this specification Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in front elevation, illustrating a combination of wiper arm and movement modifying arm embodying features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but upon a larger scale than Figure 1, which shows parts of the structure broken away intermediate their ends for compactness of illustration;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line 3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken upon the line 44 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the i arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view in rear elevation of a portion of the structure illustrated in Figure 4, as indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and the associated arrows;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken upon the line E6 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken upon the line 7-1 of Figures 2 and 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the linesfl-B of Figures 2 and 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken upon the lines 99 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a rear view of an arm employed for connecting the wiper blade to the movement modifying arm;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a holding clip;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary, sectional view, showing the wiper arm of Figure 3 shortened and adjusted for acting. upon a conical surface,

Figure 13 is a pictorial view of a section of the assembly; and

Figure 14 is a partial bottom view of the free end of an arm section.

In Figures 1 to 4 disclosure is made of a combined wiper and movement modifying arm in which is included all of the structure necessary wiper blade for meeting the various services referred to in the introductory portion of this specification.

The illustrative wiper arm I, and the movement modifying arm 2 are shown as mounted upon a frame or body member 3 adjacentthe windshield glass 4. A wiper motor shaft 5 extends forwardly through the frame structure 3 and has the wiper arm I made fast upon its reduced forward end 6. A hearing pin '1 is mounted upon the frame structure 3 to extend forward in parallelism with the shaft 5, and alongside the shaft. The pin 1 provides a bearing for the inner end of the modifying arm 2. The wiper and modifying arms illustrated i Figures 1 to 4 are of exceptional length, being provided with extension members which may be cut away by selected amounts for bringing about lengthwise adjustment of the'arm.

The wiper arm I comprises an inner supporting section 8 which is secured upon the reduced shaft 7 portion 6 by means of a nut 9 and a washer ID,

the nut 9 being threaded upon a reduced end portion of the shaft, and the washer I being adapted to bear in a recess II formed at the forward side of the wiper arm section 8. The section 8 has an extension channel I2 pivotally secured upon it by means of a pivot pin I3.

A T-bolt I4, having a narrow, elongated head I5, is passed through the outer end of the supporting section 8 of the arm and through the inner end of the extension channel I2, and has threaded upon its protruding forward end a nut I6 for bearing against the forward face of the extension channel I2. The head I5 of the bolt I4is received in a recess I! which is formed in the rear face of the supporting section 8. The shank of the'bolt I4 extends through a flaring opening l8 which is formed in the forward wall of the supporting section 8.

As will be seen, the bolt I4 is free to rock as the nut I6 is adjusted to change the attitude of the extension channel I2 so that the nut I6 may at all times bear fully against the forward face of the extension channel I2. The supporting section 8 has the forward portion of its outer end cut away to provide a sloping forward face H] for limiting adjustment of the extension channel l2.

The purpose of the adjustment described is to er'iable'jth'e' wiper arm to be adjusted for wiping conical as well as flat urfaces. This will be explained more fully after the entire structure has been described.

The extension channel I2 has formed in its forward wall a series of openings 20. trated, the inner three of these openings are disposed at one-half inch intervals, while the several additional ones are disposed at one-inch intervals.

The second or extension section, which comprises the extension channel I2, also includes 'a cooperating channel member 2|. The channel member 2| includes a forward body portion and opposed side walls and is adapted to fit snugly within the extension channel I2. The forward wallof the channel member 2| is provided with three openings 22 which are spaced at one-half inch intervals. As shown best in Figure 3, two of the openings 22 are aligned with two of the openings 20 and rivets 23 are passed through the aligned openings and upset to secure the channel members I2 and 2| rigidly to one another.

When it is desired to reduce the length of the extension section, the rivets 23 may be cut off or drilled out, and the extension channel I2 cut off to the new desired length, Two of the openings 22 are then aligned with the two outermost openings which remain on the extension channel I2, and new rivets are inserted and applied. The extension section can be reduced in length by one-inch 'steps down to the point where the three openings 22 coincide with the three innermost openings 20. After that a further reduction in length of one-half inch may be secured by cutting off the portion of the extension channel I2 which contains the third opening 20, and cutting off the portion of the channel member 2| which contains the innermost opening 22. The desired final reduction of length is then secured byaligning the two remaining'openings 22 with As illusthe two remaining openings 2|] and applying fresh rivets.

For facilitating severance the channel members l2 and 2| are desirably made of mild steel or othercomparatively soft metal which, though stiff enough to operate in the desired manner, is soft enough to admit of ready severance.

The channel member 2| carries a crosspin 24 upon which a third wiper arm section 25 is pivotally supported. The section 25 is itself well adapted to be a standard wiper arm section for universal service. It embodies the features of construction of U. S. Letters Patent 2,326,402 granted to me on August 10, 1943, and features disclosed and claimed in my pending application Serial No. 521,903 filed February 11, 1944, now Patent No. 2,507,279, granted May 9, 1950, for AdjustableLength Windshield Wiper Arms. The wiper arm section, however, also includes novel structure at the outer end thereof as will be pointed out.

The wiper arm section 25 comprises a channel member 26 having ears 2'! which embrace the channel walls of the member 2|. It is through these ears 2! that the pivot pin 24 is passed for pivotally supporting the channel section 25.

Partially within the channel of the member 26 there is located a spring assembly 28 comprising a rigid plate 29 and a series of flexible leaf springs 39 and a further flexible leaf spring 3|. The plate 29 is provided with fingers 32 which are ,wrapped around the collection of spring leaves to hold the parts in assembled relation. The spring leaves. and the plate 29 are formed with interfitting formations to prevent relative longitudinal movement of the individual parts. The normal tendency of the spring leaves is to lie against the plate 29. The forward leaf 36 bears -against a roller 33 which is mounted upon a pin 34, the latter being carried by the channel member 2| at the outer end thereof. A screw 35 is passed through the forward wall of the channel member 26 and threaded through the inner end of the plate 29. By turning the screw, the inner end of the plate 29 may be forced forward toward both to hold the spring 3| against longitudinal shifting and to hold it in assembled relation with the inner end of the plate 36 and with the channel member 26.

Between the spring plate 36 and the forward wall of the channel member 26 there is provided a slidable wiper arm section 38. The member 38 is provided in its rear face with a series of alternate teeth and notches, the teeth being designated 39. These notches are provided at frequent intervals, and most desirably at intervals which constitute an aliquot part of one-half inch for a reason which will be made clear farther on.

The notches are adapted to be engaged by a nose portion 40 at the outer end of the spring plate 36. The nose portion 40 has to be forced into a notch, however, the tendency of the'spring' '5. plate 36 being to hold the nose clear of the teeth 39.

A locking lever 4! is provided with a finger 42 through which it is pivoted in an offset end portion of the spring 3|. The lever is adapted to be operated by a finger piece 43 between the spring plate 36 and the outer extremity of the spring 3i.

When the lever 4i is in the longitudinally extending position illustrated in Figure 3, it is pressed firmly against the outer end of the spring plate 36 and is thereby caused to force the nose portion of the plate 36 into one of the notches of the member 38. With the parts in this condition, the member 33 is securely locked against longitudinal movement.

When. it is desired to adjust the lengthwise position. of the member 38, the lever M is operated to a transverse position in which it extends freely between the spring plate 36 and the offset portion of the spring 35 in which it is pivoted. The nose 40 now springs clear of the teeth 39 so that the member 38 can be freely adjusted.

The structural features of the arm section 25 which have been thus far described are clearly disclosed and are claimed in the patent and application above referred to,

The teeth 39 cover a range of adjustment of more than one inch. The adjustments provided by the extension section and by the teeth 39 provide, therefore, for adjustment to any desired length within a tooth space throughout the total range of adjustment which is made available.

The outer end of the member 38 is generally flat, but is formed with a circular raised area Mi at its forward side and a corresponding circular depressed area at its rearward side. The spacer bushing 45 extends through the center of this region of displacement.

A wiper blade 46 is provided comprising a flex-- ible wiping element and a rigid, channeled, metallic blade frame it. The blade frame 48 is embraced by a U-shaped clip 49, and is rockingly supported from the clip by a rivet 55 which is passed through the clip walls, the blade frame 48, and the wiping element ll. A headed bolt 55 extends through the forward wall of the clip 49, through the inner end of a link 56, and through the bushing 35, being held in assembled relation with the link and the bushing by an elastic stop nut 51.

The stop nut 51 is of well-known construction, comprising a metallic body formed with an annular recess, which has a fibre washer 5B trapped in it.

The pressure of the nut 5'! is transmitted through the bushing 45 and the link 56 to the clip 49. Since the bushing 55 is of greater thickness than the metal or" the arm member 38 through which it passes, no pressure is applied to the member 38, and the wiper blade assembly described, together with its mounting means, is free to turn about the axis of the bolt 55 in relation to the arm member 33. The rear face of the link 56 is formed with an annular knurled or serrated area 553 while the forward face of the clip 49 is formed with segmental knurled or serrated areas 60 for engaging the area 59. With this construction the link 55 is adapted to be locked in any desired angular relation to the clip 49, the link being utilized for controlling angular motion of the clip and the wiper blade 46 through the influence of the movement modifying arm 2.

It is not, necessary, however. that the link 5.6

d be included or that the movement modifying feature be employed. When it is desired to discard these features, the nut 5'! is simply unscrewed from the bolt, the link 56 is removed, and the nut and bolt are reassembled at opposite sides of the member 33 and of the bushing 45.

It will be noticed that the clip 59 is long enough to engage an annular shoulder area or boss 6! which surrounds the depressed area in the rear face of the member 38. The forward face of the clip 4Q has a plane surface so that no portion of the clip enters the recess in the rear face of arm section 38. While the bushing 45 is thicker than the metal of the member 38 through which it passes and, therefore, served when the link or arm 56 was employed to prevent the application of pressure to the member 33, the bushing is not thick enough when the link 5% has been removed to prevent the clamping of the member 38 between the clip 19 and the lock nut 5?. The shoulder area iii may desirably be knurled or toothed as illustrated in Figure 14 for cooperating with the toothed areas 68 of the clip it) so that the clip may be firmly clamped in any adjusted rotative position to the arm member 38. The knurling or teeth on the boss portion iii is inefiective when the lever is present because the opposed surface of the lever 55 is spaced from the boss 5 l.

Referring now to the structure as shown in Figures 1 to 4- in which the iever 56 is employed, it will he observed that the lever 58, which is made to turn in unison with the clip is provided at its free end with one or more holes 5?. which may be selectively utilized for pivotaliy connecting the lever to the movement modifying arm 2 whereby to obtain a particular movement of the blade or when the distance between the pivots 5 and l is varied.

The modifying comprises at its outer end a pair of plates 63 which are held together by a rivet fi i and whose outer ends ar spaced apart to receive the lever 55 between them. A pin 55 is passed through the ends of the plates 53 and through the lever 56 and is held in place by a cotter pin 66.

The plates 553 are received at their inner ends within a reduced end portion of a channel member 5'5. The channel member 6'! comprises a front wall 83, side walls es and rear walls or flanges T0, the last named being turned inward in a common plane toward one another but with a space intervening continuously between them. The inturned walls '86 are serrated, the deformations being pressed right through the metal so that the serrations appear both upon the inner and outer faces of the walls it. A rivet H is passed through the wall through the plates 53, between the walls is and through a serrated washer l2, being upset to unite the parts firmly with one another. The teeth and notches of the walls it are aligned with one another, and each tooth space is desirably made equal in iength to a tooth. space of the member The inner end of the channeledmember 6? receives an arm is which is anixed to the pivot pin 1. The arm i3 is desirably made wide enough throughout its length to fill the space between the side walls is of the channel member Bl. A bolt 7 whose head has fiat, parallel side faces and fills the space between the side walls 35% of member Si, is passed through the plate l3. between the walls it, and through a serrated washer 15. An elastic stop nut it is threaded onto the bolt 14 for securing the channel member 61 in fixed relation to the arm 13.

When the described structure is employed as a parallel motion linkage the space between the axes of the wiper motor shaft and the pivot pin 1 is equal to the efiective length of the lever arm 56. The effective length of the wiper arm from the axis of shaft 5 to the axis of bolt 55 is equal to the effective length of the movement modifying arm from the axis of pivot pin 1 to the axis of pin 65. The wiper arm I and the movement modifying arm 2 consequentl maintain a parallel relation throughout their operations, while the lever arm 56 maintains a parallel relation to the line joining the axes of the shaft 5 and the pivot pin 1 at all times. Since the wiper blade 46 is secured in fixed relation to the lever arm 56, the angular disposition of the blade 46 does not change in operation.

The blade may, for example, be set in a vertical attitude and will retain a vertical attitude as it sweeps from side to side of the windshield. As illustrated, the axes of shaft 5 and pivot pin 1 lie in a common horizontal plane so that the vertically disposed wiper blade 45 would extend at right angles to that horizontal plane. Should it be desired to dispose the wiper blade at any other angle to the plane in which the axes of the shaft 5 and pivot pin 7 lie, this may be brought about by loosening the stop nut 51, adjusting the clip 49 relative to the arm 56, and tightening the stop nut 51 again.

When the lengths of the wiper and the movement modifying arms as disclosed are greater than required for. a particular installation, the

wiper arm may be shortened, as already explained, and the movement modifying arm may be shortened by cutting away a portion of the channel member 67 adjacent its left extremity; This last operation is effected by partially backing off the stop nut 15, withdrawing the channel member 51 from the arm [3, cutting off any desired length of the channel member and reapplying the remainder in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. The effective shortening of the channel member 61 is necessarily a whole number of tooth spaces for the reason that the position of the nut 15 longitudinall of the arm 13 is fixed. While the channel member l2 of the extension section of the wiper arm can only be reduced by multiples of one inch plus a final one-half inch, if desired, it will be remembered that the arm section 38 can be adjusted by tooth space intervals throughout a range of more than one inch. It is possible, therefore, through effecting combined adjustments of the wiper arm, to bring about any effective length throughout the entire range of available adjustment at tooth space intervals. The wiper arm and the movement modifying arm may accordingly be adjusted in unison throughout the entire available range, the available lengths differing from one another by a single tooth space.

The channel member 6'! is desirably made of mild steel or other comparatively soft metal to facilitate severance, the material being sufiiciently stiff, however, to serve the desired purpose. 7

While the comprehensive structure including the movement modifying arm and the lever arm 56 has been illustrated, it is to be understool that these parts will be omitted in many installations.

When it is desired, for example, to apply the wiper and wiper arm to the wiping of a spherical or flat surface; as is frequently required in aircraft, the lever 56 and th modifying arm 2 would not be employed. The arm may, of course, be used full length as shown in Figures 1 to 3, but with the lever 56 and the modifying arm 2 omitted, or it ma be adjusted to any desired length according to the requirements of a particular installation.

In Figure 12 the arm is shown cut down to nearly the shortest possible length and adjusted to form the smallest apex angle within the available range of adjustment. As illustrated, the channel member l2 forms an angle of 70 with the axis of shaft 5. This adjustment would desirably be employed when one-half the apex angle of the conical surface of the windshield is 70, since it is desirable that the axis of shaft 5 coincide with the attitude of the cone and that the channel member l2 extends parallel to the conical surface in order to avoid variations of spring pressure as the wiper travels from side to side upon such surface.

Should one-half the apex angle be greater than 70, the nut l6 would simply be backed offv from the position illustrated in Figure 12 far enough to permit the channel member 12 to form with the axis of shaft 5 an angle which is equal to one-half of the apex angle. In other words, the angle formed by the shaft and the arm and the position of the shaft as described are only applicable to certain installations. When the shaft is installed at a predetermined angle with respect to the glass, the outer end of the arm and the wiper blade secured thereto will be caused to follow the same radius of the curvature or condition of the glass. The adjustment described provides means whereby the attitude of the arm and blade may be changed as desired, to meet variable conditions. In other words, the angle of the arm may be adjusted to any one of a plurality of angular positions and held in such position whereby the wiper blade may be brought to the appropriate position to wipe the particular surface to be cleaned.

The spring assembly 28 above referred to causes the channel member 12 to follow the nut l6 as the nut is backed off, the tendency of the spring being to swing the channel member I2 counterclockwise upon the pin l3, and the wiper section 25 clockwise about the pin 24. Backing off of the nut l6 would permit a change of attitude of the section I2 relative to the section 25 and a relaxation of the spring pressure. desired spring pressure may be restored by adjustment of the screw 35.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention. I do not wish, however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A windshield wiper arm comprising, in combination, an inner supporting section adapted for mounting on an operating shaft, an extension section carried thereby comprising relatively telescoping parts, said parts including provision for relative lengthwise adjustment by coarse increments, a biasing section pivoted on the extension section, and. a wiper carrying section carried by the biasing section, said biasing and wiper carrying sections including means for effecting relative lengthwise adjustment by relatively fine increments.

2. A windshield wiper arm comprising, in com bination, an inner supporting sectionadapted for mounting on an operating shaft, an extension section carried thereby comprising re1ative- 1y telescoping parts, said parts including provision for relative lengthwise adjustment by coarse increments, a biasing section pivoted on the extension section, and a wiper carrying section carried by the biasing section, said biasing and wiper carrying sections including means for effecting relative lengthwise adjustment by relatively fine increments, each an aliquot part or" the adjustment increment provided by the extension sec tion.

3. A windshield wiper arm comprising, in combination, an inner supporting section adapted for mounting on an operating shaft, an extension section carried thereby comprising telescoping channel members provided with fastener receiving openings and fasteners at predetermined intervals, whereby lengthwise adjustment by coarse increments is made available, a biasing wiper section pivoted on the extension section, and a wiper carrying section carried by the biasing section, said biasing and wiper carrying sections including means for effecting relative lengthwise adjustment by relatively fine increments.

4. A windshield wiper comprising, in combination, an inner supporting section adapted for mounting on an operating shaft, an extension section, pivot means connecting the extension section with the supporting section an outer section pivoted on the extension section and provided with means to which a wiper blade can be connected, and adjusting mechanism carried by said supporting section and said extension section and arranged between said pivot means and said outer section for determining the desired angular relation of the extension section to the supporting section.

5. In a windshield wiper arm, the combination with an inner supporting section adapted to be secured on an operating shaft, an extension section, pivot means connecting the extension section with the supporting section and a biasing section for holding a wiper blade pivotally mounted on the extension section, of a bolt passed forwardly through a forwardly flaring opening in the supporting section and through the extension section at a point between said pivot means and said biasing section, and a nut threaded on the forward end of the bolt to draw at least a portion of the extension section in a direction toward the axis of the shaft.

6. An arm assembly comprising, a fitting adapted for connection to driving means, an arm having one end pivotally connected to said fitting, an arm part having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said arm, an extension projecting from the other end of said arm part adjustable longitudinally with respect to the part, and said extension having means whereby cleaner means may be supported thereby.

7. An arm assembly comprising, a fitting adapted for connection to driving means, an arm having one end pivotally connected to said fitting, an arm part having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said arm, an extension for supporting a wiper blade carried by and longitudinally adjustable with respect to said part, and means whereby the arm may be held at various fixed angular positions with respect to said fitting.

8. A windshield wiper comprising, in combination, an inner supporting section adapted for mounting on an operating shaft, an extension section, pivot means connecting the extension section with the supporting section, abutment means on the extension section, a wiper arm having its inner end pivotally connected to the extension section, biasing means carried by the arm and engaging the abutment means for ur ing the arm in a predetermined direction, means on the arm to which a wiper blade can be connected, and adjusting means carried by said supporting section and said extension section and arranged between said pivot means and said arm for determining the desired angular relation of the extension section to the supporting section.

9. A windshield wiper comprising, in combination, an inner supporting section adapted for mounting on an operating shaft, a first extension section, pivot means connecting the first extension section with the supporting section, a second extension section secured to the first extension section, a wiper arm having its inner end pivotally connected to the second extension section, biasing means carried by the wiper for urging the arm in a predetermined direction, means on the arm to which a wiper blade can be connected, and adjusting means carried by said supporting section and said first extension section and arranged between said pivot means and said arm for determining the desired angular relation of the first extension section to the supporting section.

10. A windshield wiper comprising, in combination, an inner supporting section adapted for mounting on an operating shaft, a first extension section, pivot means connecting the first extension section with the supporting section, a second extension section secured to the first extension section, abutment means on the second extension section, a wiper arm having its inner end pivotally connected to the second extension section, biasing means carried by the arm and engaging the abutment means for urging the arm in a predetermined direction, means on the arm to which a wiper blade can be connected, and adjusting means carried by said supporting section and said first extension section and arranged between said pivot means and said arm a for determining the desired angular relation of the first extension section to the supporting section.

THEODORE J. SMULSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 786,054 Roy Mar. 28, 1905 1,250,468 Kales Dec. 18, 1917 1,536,506 Laganke May 5, 1925 1,573,618 Laganke Feb. 16, 1926 1,576,381 Van Derbeck Mar. 9, 1926 1,730,342 Anderson Oct. 8, 1929 2,245,244 Zaiger June 10, 1941 2,312,278 Zaiger Feb. 23, 1943 2,376,012 Sacchini May 15, 1945 2,392,670 Horton Jan. 8, 1946 

